Shagird (2011) *LQ*

Hanumant Singh (Nana Patekar) is the quirky cop in the police department. He is a man of action who delivers most of the time but he has unusual ways to accomplish his mission. More importantly, he doesn’t think twice before hobnobbing with corrupt politicians (Zakir Hussain) and gangsters (Anurag Kashyap) and taking bribes for services rendered. Trouble begins when a new and seemingly honest recruit (Mohit Ahlawat) joins his team.

Cast: Nana Patekar, Mohit Ahlawat, Rimmi

Watch the film for its topicality. Shagird holds up a hard-hitting mirror on India: corrupt to the core, India: permanently scarred by the unholy nexus between tainted politicians, ruthless gangsters and dishonest cops.

Nana Patekar and his gang of uniformed men are completely amorphous. You never know which side of the law they are on, crossing thresholds swiftly, whenever it suits them. Patekar’s Hanumant Singh is a classic study in grey as he doesn’t blink before guzzling crores to give his family a dream life. Of course, he’s a crack shot too and does clean up the scum of the city. But only when it suits him and his buddies. Even more enigmatic is his relationship with the dirty politician, Zakir Hussain and his henchman-turned-bugbear, Anurag Kashyap. Both Zakir Hussain and Kashyap are in fine form and create a lot of fireworks on screen.

Punctuated with thrilling chases and shoot-outs in the crowded by-lanes of Delhi, Shagird is another interesting film from maverick director Tigmanshu Dhulia who made an impression with Haasil, his very first film.